THE BERNALILLO COUNTY COMMISSION WILL VOTE TUESDAY NIGHT ON WHETHER TO SPEND UP TO 6-MILLION DOLLARS TO TRANSFER PRISONERS TO OTHER FACILITIES IN THE STATE AND ELSEWHERE. COMMISSIONER MAGGIE HART STEBBINS SAYS IT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF OVER-CROWDING AT THE M-D-C.
SHE SAYS IT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT THEY DON'T FEEL IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION. BUT SHE SAYS COMMISSIONERS FEEL IT'S THEIR ONLY OPTION TO REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION WHILE THEY LOOK INTO WHETHER THE ALTERNATIVES CAN BE EFFECTIVE LONG TERM.
ONE OF THOSE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES IS THE COMMUNITY CUSTODY PROGRAM. HART-STEBBINS SAYS IF OVERCROWDING REMAINS A PROBLEM LONG-TERM, THEN SHE THINKS THEY'LL HAVE TO EXPAND THE M-D-C AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST TO THE COUNTY.
